The oldest chocolate factory in Brazil, Neugebauer was founded by German immigrant brothers Franz and Max Neugebauer and their partner, Fritz Gerhardt, in September 1891. When German confectioner Franz Neugebauer arrived in Porto Alegre in 1888, he spoke with city authorities and realized the interest they had in implementing new manufacturing companies. From then on he started developing his plans to manufacture food products.

After finding the location, a building which had previously housed a school, Franz Neugebauer writes his family members in Germany and asks his brother Ernest to become an expert in the confection and chocolate business so that he could come to Brazil for them to open the factory.

And that is how Franz and Max Neugebauer, together with their friend Fritz Gerhardt, founded the company Neugebauer Irmãos & Gerhardt on September 17, 1891. Despite having faced a rough start, they managed to expand their production, especially after Ernest arrived in Brazil bringing new techniques and increasing the company's capital. In 1896, the great success they enjoyed allowed them to expand the factory and start the construction of a new building. Upon Fritz Gerhardt's departure from the company, its corporate name was changed to Neugebauer & Irmãos.

Having been thoroughly successful in business, by the early 20th century the factory was no longer capable of supporting the increase in sales and needed to be expanded further. In 1903, they purchased a new lot and started the construction of a two-story building which for a long time remained the largest structure in the Navegantes district in Porto Alegre. At the new facilities, they enlarged the manufacturing area and opened their first store. Its unsurpassed performance made the Neugebauer brothers triumphant with their new factory, today the most traditional chocolate manufacturing company in the country.

In September 2002 the company was acquired by Florestal Alimentos, from Lajeado (RS), and has since crossed over the borders of the Brazilian territory. It currently exports bubblegum bonbons, assorted bonbons, tablets, bars, and confections to South Africa, Mexico, Costa Rica, Oman, Jamaica, Ghana, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Israel, the Fiji Islands, and New Zealand, among others.

Among our customers' favorite products we highlight the Preto e Branco chocolate bar (the first two-layered bar in the country), Amor Carioca bonbons, Bib’s confections, the Refeição and Stikadinho tablets, besides the assorted Lembranças bonbon box, the new version of the Noite de Gala bonbon, and the re-launching of the much appreciated Love Me bonbon.